Turmoil in West Asia keeps markets on edge, Sensex slips below 66,000

Oil prices climbed 1.2 per cent to nearly $94 per barrel after an explosion at a Gaza hospital jeopardised peace efforts in the Middle East

The Indian equity benchmarks stumbled on Wednesday as rising crude oil prices and bond yields, and a slide in financial majors rattled investors. The Sensex closed at 65,877, down 551 points or 0.83 per cent, while the Nifty50 fell 140 points, or 0.71 per cent, to close at 19,671. The Nifty Midcap 100 and the Nifty Smallcap 100 declined by 0.9 per cent and 0.34 per cent, respectively.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 1,832 crore, while domestic institutions were buyers to the tune of Rs 1,470 crore on Wednesday. After pulling out over Rs 15,000 crore last month,